Perforating device for music-rolls.



PATENTED AUG. 18

H.P.BALL.

PERPORATING DEVICE FOR MUSIC ROLLS;

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1902.

no MODEL.

n mvrml WITNESSES: Zz/

I trical energy and transformer.

UNITED STATES Patented August 18, 1903.

PATENT OEEIcE.

HENRY PRICE BALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUELINSULL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PERFORATING DEVICE FOR MUSIC-ROLLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,571, dated August18, 1903.

Application filed April 10, 1902.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY PRICE BALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, county and State of New York, have invented aPerforating Device for Illusio- Rolls, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a perforating device adapted to be used inconnection with a piano or other similar musical instrument and whichhas for its purpose to reproduce upon a moving strip or number of stripsof paper or other material, as a series of perforations, the notesplayed upon the piano or other musical instrument, so that when aperforated strip is caused to pass through a suitable mechanicalinstrument the musical composition originally played will be exactlyreproduced.

In all perforating-machines for music-rolls of which I am aware theperforation of the music-roll has been accomplished by the direct actionof a punch or punches.

My present invention consists in a construction where the perforation ofthe music-roll is accomplished by means of electricity or heat and in amanner which will be described.

My invention also relates to various features of construction of theperforating device and the apparatus with which it is connected.

The object of my invention is to decrease the cost of producingperforated music-rolls and also to improve the character of the rollsproduced.

The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved perforating-machine andelectromotor for driving the machine, a horizontal section through anoperating-key, and also shows diagrammatically the circuit connectionsbe tween the various parts and a source of elec- Fig. 2 is a verticalsection taken on the line X X of 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectionsshowing modifications of the perforating mechanism.

In the drawings, 5 indicates the side frames of the perforating-machine.Mounted in this frame is a shaft 0, on the opposite ends of which arearranged the eccentrics 7 8. To each eccentric 7 is connected apunch 9,which reciprocates through a die-plate 10, Fig. 2.

of a master music-roll.

Serial No. 102,228. (No model.)

These punches are employed for forming the rack-holes usually providedin the outer edges To each eccentric S is connected a presser-foot 11,which serves to hold the moving strip of paper while the punches 9 arereciprocating through it. The full details of this construction of punchand presserfoot are shown and described in my former application, SerialNo. 97,353. Connected to the right-hand end of the shaft 6 is a beveledgear 12, which meshes with the gear 13 on the shaft 14. On the lower endof the shaft 14 is a worm 15, which meshes with the worm-wheel 16 onshaft 17. Situated in the same axial line as the shaft 17 is a shaft 18.This shaft is mounted in bearings 19, carried on the end of the verticalrods 20. These rods pass through brackets 21 on the inner side of theframes 5 of the machine and are provided with a nut 22 on their lowerend. Between the bracket 21 and the nut 22 is a helical spring 23, whichexerts a constant downward tension upon the shaft 18. Situated over theshaft 17 and the shaft 18 is a belt 24.

Projecting from the side plates 5 of the machine are brackets 25, and inthese'brackets are carried the horizontal bars 26. Arranged parallelwith their bearings in the bars 26 is the roll 27 upon which thematerial to be perforated is wound when it is introduced into themachine, and the roll 28, upon which the material when perforated isWound before removal from the machine. It Willbe observed that the belt24 presses on the inner side of the rolls 27 and 28 and that by reasonof the horizontal bars, which are adjustable laterally, meansareprovided to compensate for the difference in size of the rolls 27 28as the paper is wound from one to the other. The springs 23 serve tomaintain a constant tension upon the belt 24. The material to beperforated after passing from roll 27 passes over a roller 29, thenceacross the die-seat 10, and over the spring-pressed roller 20.

Motion is given to the parts by means of the motor M, on the shaft ofwhich is mounted a horizontal disk 31. Over this disk, on shaft 6, isarranged the vertically-rotating wheel 32. The disk 31 is provided witha frictionsurface I prefer that the wheel 32 shall be ad- ICO justablehorizontally along the shafts 6, as

by so doing the speed at which the perforatingmachine is d ven may bevaried by moving the wheel from the center toward the periphery of thewheel Means are shown for varying the position of the wheel 32, whichconsists of a pivoted handle 34, Fig. 2, provided with a pin 35, whichtakes in a slot 36 in the hub of the wheel 3;. The outer end of thehandle isiprovided with an upwardlyprojecting pin 31. which is adaptedto coact with a rack 38. i By moving the'handle to the right or left thewheel 32'maybe moved across the face of the disk 31 of the niotor M.

The foregoin f description has related e11 tirely to the mechanicalfeatures of my device and has described the means by which the materialto be perforated is moved through the machine and the rack-holes to beformed in the sides of the music-roll. I will now describe the meansemployed for perforating the material to form the musical notes.

39 representsja bar of insulating material arranged transversely of themachine. This bar is provided with a series of vertical perforations 40,in which are located independent conducting-pins 41. Situated below thebar 39 and arranged transversely of the machine is another bar 10,provided with the perforations 42, in which are the pins 43. These pinsare all connected electrically by means of a plate of connectingmaterial 44. The pins 41 43 occupy fixed positions, although preferablythey may be made adjustable to compensate for wear in use.

D indicates adynamo-machine. This dynamo serves to run the motor M andalso is connected to the transformer-T to form the primary coil 45 ofthe transformer. The secondary coil 46 of the transformer is connectedat one end to the plate 44 through the conductor 4'7 and is connectedthrough its opposite end to a contact -plate 48 of the switch S throughconductor 49. The opposite contactplate 50 of the switch Sis connectedto a pin 41 through conductor 52.

K represents the key of a musical instrument upon which the compositionto be perforated upon the music-roll is played. Located under the key isa pin P, between which and the keys of the musical instrument 53 is aspring 54.

The contacts 48 50 of the switch S are immersed in a body of oil 55,contained in a suitable trough This trough may be arranged to extendacross the whole distance occupied by the keys of a musical instrumentor the trough may be divided into a number of sections representing thenumber of keys of the musical instrument. It will be understood from thedescription as given that there will be a switch for each key and thatsuch witch will be in electrical circuit with a pin 41 and a pin 43.

Instead of using the pins 41 43, as shown in Fig. 2, I may use a pair ofdisks 57 58, the upper one of which is spring-pressed, as shown in Fig.or instead of using the pins or disks I may use the arrangementshown inFig. 4,'which consists of a pivoted lever 59', carrying the pin 60,adapted to move over the die 10. Located in front of the pin 60 but inits uppermostposition is a heating-flame Connected to the lever 59 is acord 62, the lower end of which can be connected through any suitableintermediate means directly to the key. Then the construction shown inFig. 4,.however, is employed, the transformer T and switch S are notemployed. 2

A represents the material to be perforated,-

whichfmay be of paper such as is commonly employed, or paper saturatedwith any chemical substance-as, for instance, alum or tungstade ofsodium-which will prevent ig= nition of the paper, or paper saturatedwith any chemical substance su ch as a solution of iodid potash, bromidpotash, starch, and waterv;ihich will be altered by the passage of anelectric current, or instead of using paper I may use any othermaterialfor instance, I find that what is known as taffetasilk serves asan excellent material for this purpose. I, however, do not wish to limitmyself, as I have-in contemplation using any material which may beperforated or acted upon either mechanically, electrically, through theaction of a heated body-such, for instance, as is shown in theconstructio n illustrated in Fig. 4.

The operation of my device is as follows: When the motor M is started,motion is given to the material A to be acted upon, and at the same timethe punches 9, which make the rack-holes, and presser-feet 11, whichhold fine material to be acted upon while the punches 9 are passingthrough it, are set in motion. hen the key K is depressed, contact ismade between a pin P and the contacts 48 50 'of the switch S. Thiscloses a circuit between the pins 41 43 or the disks 57 58. The currentfrom the secondary of the transformer T, which may be as high avoltagecurrent as necessary, passes across the contacts and acts eitherto directly perforate the material passing between the pins or disks, tochar the material, or chemically act upon the material. The character ofthe effect produced-2'. a, the note or size of the perforations, 6.,whether a small hole or a long hole, a small char or a long char, achemicallychanged spot or slot is producedwill depend entirely upon thelength of time that the key K is held down. The same will be true whenthe key is used in connection with the device shown in Fig. 4. It willthus be seen that if the material to be perforated is driven at a fixedspeed the character of the changes produced in the material to beperforated or altered will correspond with the character of theimpressions made by the performer upon the key K of the musicalinstrument upon which the composition is played.

I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the preciseinstrumentality shown for perforating, altering, or effecting the musicroll to be produced. I consider myself to be the first in the art tosuggest any means other than that due to the action of a punch forproducing perforations in the roll, and I desire to claim any and allmeans which may be considered equivalents of the in cans shown anddescribed in this application.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A perforating device formusic-rolls,com-

prising in its construction, a series of pairs of electrodes, arrangedin line and separated, means for moving the strip of material to beacted upon between the said electrodes, and a series of keys, one incircuit with each pair of electrodes for causing a current ofelectricity to pass between one or more of said electrodes.

2. Aperforating device for music-rolls,comprising in its construction, aseries of oppositely-disposed and separated pairs of electrodes, meansfor moving a strip of material to be acted upon between said electrodes,and a series of circuit-closing devices one con nected to each pair ofelectrodes for causing a current of electricity to pass between one ormore of said'electrodes.

A perforating device for music-rolls,comprising in its construction, aseries of pairs of oppositely-disposed and separated electrodes,punching mechanism, means for moving a strip of material to be actedupon between said electrodes, and beneath said punches, means forcausing a current of electricity to pass between one or more of saidelectrodes, and means for actuating said punches.

4. Aperforating device for music-rolls, comprising in its construction,a source of electricity, a series of pairs of separated electrodes, oneelectrode of each pair in circuit with one terminal of the source ofelectricity, and one electrode of each pair in circuit with anindcpendent circuit-closing device, and a series of circuit-closingdevices corresponding in number with the number of pairs of electrodes.

5. A perforating device for mu sic-rolls,co1nprising in its constructiona series of pairs of electrodes arranged in line and separated, a seriesof keys, a series of electric switches, said keys collectively connectedto one electrode of each pair and said switches individually connectedto one electrode of one pair, and means for moving a strip of materialto be acted upon between the electrodes.

6. Aperforating device for music-rolls,con1- prising in its constructiona series of oppositely-disposed and separated electrodes, means formoving a strip of material to be acted upon between said electrodes, andmeans for closing one or more circuits through said electrodes at anymoment during the passage of the strip of material.

7. Aperforating device for music-rolls,comprising in its construction, aseries of electrodes arranged in pairs and in line, one of theelectrodes of each pair electrically connected and one of the electrodesof each pair electrically insulated, means for moving a strip ofmaterial to be acted upon between said electrodes, and means for closingthe circuits between the electrodes of each pair.

8. In a perforating device for music-rolls, the combination of a seriesof keys, a circuitclosing device for each key, a series of pairs ofelectrodes arranged in line and separated, and means for moving a stripof material to be acted upon between the electrodes and in such mannerthat only the portion of the strip to be acted upon will be within theinfluence of the electrodes.

9. A perforating device for music-rolls, comprising in its construction,a series of oppositely-disposed and separated pairs of electrodes,supporting-plates for said electrodes,

means for moving a strip of material to be acted upon between saidelectrodes and supporting-plates, and means for closing electriccircuits between said electrodes.

10. In a perforating device for music-rolls, the combination of a pairof rolls from and on which the music-roll is wound, means for drivingsaid rolls at the same peripheral speed, means for punching rack-holesin said musicroll, and means for driving said first and second namedmeans at a variable speed.

11. In a perforating device for music-rolls, the combination with meansfor mechanically punching the rack-holes in the music-roll, of means forelectrically perforating the music roll to form the holes which are usedto produce the musical notes.

12. In a perforating device for music-rolls, the combination of theperforating mechanism, means for driving the perforating mechanism, andmeans for altering the speed of the perforating mechanism withoutaltering the speed of the driving mechanism.

13. In a perforating device for music-rolls, the combination of a pairof rolls from and on which the music-roll is wound, and means for driving said rolls at the same peripheral speed, consisting of a drivenendless belt arranged to bear upon the opposing surfaces of both rolls.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY PRICE BALL.

\Vitnesses: I Y

J. E. PEARSON, WM. II. BUCKMAN.

